Author Notes: I made a mistake back in chapter 2, so those of you who read it earlier, please recheck the last paragraph. I made major changes to what happens in the end because before, it felt like there was something out-of-character. I'll try my best to keep things in-character. So here's chapter 3. Enjoy. Please let me know what you think.
Note: It's best to view this fanfiction in a window that is half the width of your monitor. You can click the 1/2 button at the top to do that. That way, it looks like it's in a novel format.
Chapter 3 – At His House
The school bell's melodious tone rang, signaling the end of the school day. "Aikawa-san," Daisuke called, "let's go. Ibuse-san and Yamamoto-san aren't going to wait for us all day." Hinako smiled, "Okay, just a minute!" She quickly gathered up all her books and paper and rushed over to Daisuke. Yamamoto called them from the hallway, "Come on! Let's go already." Daisuke laughed and Hinako giggled, and quickly left the class room. All four of them walked together on the sidewalk.
"Did things go well for you two this morning?" Daisuke asked Kazuiki and Yuzu.
"Yup, we had a nice long talk with those girls that played the prank," Yuzu answered, "Right Kazuki?"
"Hm? Oh yeah," said Kazuki, "They won't bother us again. It was all an accident anyways."
They walked in silence for a while until Kazuki broke the silence. "Well, my home is this way," she pointed out, "See you later!" Everyone waved good bye and continued on in silence. The silence was broken once again, however, this time it was Daisuke, "By the way Yuzu, are busy today? Because Aikawa-san is going to help out with the shop today, so I was wondering if you want to join us."
"Hm, ah. I'm sorry, I got a lot of studying to catch up on. There's an exam coming up this week for English. Aren't you going to study?"
"Ah, maybe later."
They arrived at their houses.
"See you later Yuzu," said Daisuke as pulled out his keys. She waved at the two, "See you later Daisuke-kun and Hinako-san." Yuzu quickly slipped into her house and closed the door.
"Let's go in Aikawa-san," Daisuke said as he unlocked the door, "Mom! Aikawa-san is here. She offered to help around the store."
"Daisuke! Welcome back!" his mom said from the kitchen, "And Aikawa-san, it's great to see you again!"
Hinako smiled and bowed, "Thank you for letting me stay."
Daisuke's laughed, "There's no need for you to be so formal with me Hinako-chan. I'm always glad to receive an extra hand."
Hinako blushed and nodded.
"Hm? You two seem pretty close."
Daisuke groaned, "Mom!"
She laughed, "My, my. Do moms nowadays have no right to speculate a little about their sons' lives?"
"Tch. Whatever." He turned away and trudged upstairs to his room. Hinako and Daisuke's mom laughed.
"So are you guys going out?"
Hinako blushed, "N-no, not really."
"Oh?"
Hinako twiddled her fingers and bowed, "E-excuse me! I-I-"
Daisuke's mother laughed, "It's alright, you don't have to tell me, but can you go get Daisuke for me?"
Hinako bowed again and quickly backed out of the room and walked towards the stairs. "We aren't going out really," she thought, "He loves me and I love him, but..." She sighed and took a step onto the stairs.
Daisuke trudged upstairs and closed his door. He sighed and dropped down on his bed. "She and I," he thought, "can't be together. I don't want someone important to me getting hurt any more than she already is." He got up and pulled off his school shirt. "Or is it just that I'm afraid to get closer to her?" He quickly changed out of his school pants and put on some comfortable sweats. "I'm afraid… to get closer… because I might end up hurting her more… Damn." He clenched his t-shirt with his fist and threw it against the wall. "Why! I've gotten so close to, and yet, I can go no further because-" The door behind him swung open. "Suwa-kun," Hinako called as she stepped in, "your mom ca-"
Daisuke still has not put on his shirt yet. "S-sorry! I didn't know you were changing!" She quickly said as she slammed the door shut. Daisuke groaned, "Just my luck." He quickly retrieved his shirt from the floor and pulled it down over his head. "Aikawa-san?" He pulled open the door but she had already gone downstairs. He sighed and walked down to the kitchen where Hinako was cleaning the dishes. He approached her from behind and took the dishes from her, "Here, let me do these."
Hinako's cheeks were still flushed. "O-o-okay." She stuttered as she stepped aside. "Um, w-what should I do?" She asked him.
"Hm? Oh, how about… Help my mom out with the cooking. Customers usually come in during this time."
She nodded and walked over to Daisuke's mom who was tending the pot. Daisuke sighed, "I still can't let her do everything. Or else mother is going to force Aikawa into coming over here more and more."
The front door's bell ringing could be heard through the plates' clattering. "Hm, customers," he thought. He could hear his mother asking the customer what his order would be. "The usual?" he thought as he scrubbed the pots.
"Hinako-san? Could you please bring the customer his meal please?" Daisuke's mother said as she handed Hinako the dish of food. Hinako accepted the plate gingerly and walked out to the front of the store.
"Here's your me-,"
"Oh, thanks." said the man sitting in the front.
Hinako froze in her steps and gulped; she was still afraid of men.
"What's wrong miss? Place the plate right here."
"Ah, o-o-okay."
She still couldn't budge from her position.
"What's wrong with you?"
Hinako swallowed. "What do I do?" she thought, "I'm … scared, Suwa-kun."
Daisuke's warm hand grasped her shoulder as she stood there. She looked up at Daisuke's smiling face.
"Don't worry; let me handle this Aikawa-san."
"T-thanks."
The two walked back to the kitchen and both were glad that the customer rush-hour time was over. "You're still not used to men Aikawa?" Daisuke asked her. She nodded in reply, "They still scare me, but I'm not afraid of you Suwa-kun." Daisuke shooked his head and sighed, "Alright, let me try teaching you how to be less afraid."
"But I-"
"Don't worry, just close your eyes for a moment."
"Like this?" she asked as she closed her eyes.
"Okay, now imagine that I am a man."
"But I know you're a man. And you're Suwa-kun, so I'm not scared."
Daisuke groaned, "That's not what I meant. Imagine me as a man, someone you don't know. A stranger, get it?"
She nodded in reply.
"Okay, now that stranger is drawing near you, his hands are approaching you."
Hinako shook a little but remained in her spot.
"His hands are getting closer… and closer… so close that you could touch them."
She clenched her fists and took a tiny step back but then decided against it and remained still.
"Now his hands are going to grab-"
Hinako peeked out of one eye.
Daisuke groaned, "You're not supposed to open your eyes. Look, now you're even smiling!"
She laughed, "I don't think this would help in reality." Daisuke smiled back at her and patted her head, "Ah well, it's an improvement."
"You-you're making my hair messy!" She complained and slipped away from his grasp. Daisuke laughed, her hair really was messed up even though he barely touched her hair.
"Don't worry about it. You still look cute."
Hinako blushed and Daisuke, after realizing what he just said looked off to the side. Luckily Daisuke's mother broke the awkward silence and called them over to eat dinner.
"So Hinako-chan," Daisuke's mother asked as they were eating, "how's school going for you?"
"Mom," Daisuke said, "nobody in their right mind would talk about that."
Hinako giggled, "It's more fun nowadays."
Daisuke's jaw fell open, "A-are you serious?"
Hinako giggled again. "It's because," she said slowly, "Suwa-kun is there." Her cheeks flushed a little, "And Ibuse and Yamamoto too."
"Oh… I see." Daisuke said as he finished his plate. "I'll go wash these dishes then." With that, he left the table and headed towards the kitchen's sink. He sighed as he washed the dishes, "School has gotten livelier since I met you. Still…"
Hinako appeared behind him, "Let me help with the dishes."
"Ah, it's fine, I don't mind."
"Just let me help a bit."
Daisuke gave in and stepped aside to give her a spot near the sink. Together, they washed the dishes in silence. Their hands met for a moment as the grabbed for the same dish. "S-sorry." Hinako said as she pulled back her hand from the dish. Within a few minutes the dishes were all clean.
Hinako picked up her school bags and said good bye to Daisuke's mother and walked to the front door.
"Aikawa-san," Daisuke said, "I'll walk you home."
She agreed to his request; she did not want to get into another situation again.
Together, the two walked quietly along the sidewalk. The night sky was out, and they could see the many bright dots that sprinkled the sky.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" Hinako said, "The sky that is."
"Yeah, it is."
They slowed to a stop as they arrived near Hinako's home.
"Thank you for today," Hinako said, "I really enjoyed it."
"Me too." Daisuke replied. They stood awkwardly for a moment. "Um-" they said in unison. Hinako giggled and Daisuke laughed.
"Bye!" Hinako said and ran off.
Daisuke smiled. "See you tomorrow Aikawa-san!" he called after her and kept watching her until she faded from his vision.
"Good night, Aikawa," he said quietly to himself, "Today has been a lot of fun."
He walked along the sidewalk, by himself this time. The night's chilling wind blew through his scant clothes and made him shiver a little.
"Aikawa-san," He thought, "you ARE a virgin… because you have never experienced what love really is."